Butforthis,thefoolishfellowSelolemighthavegivenustrouble。
WesawmanyoftheliberatedcaptivesofthisItalianamongthevillageshere,andSekwebufoundthemtobeMatebeleThebrotherofMburumahadagun,whichwasthefirstwehadseenincomingeastwardBeforewereachedMburumamymenwenttoattackatroopofelephants,astheyweremuchinneedofmeat。
Whenthetroopbegantorun,oneofthemfellintoahole,andbeforehecouldextricatehimselfanopportunitywasaffordedforallthementothrowtheirspearsWhenherosehewaslikeahugeporcupine,foreachoftheseventyoreightymenhaddischargedmorethanonespearathimAstheyhadnomore,theysentformetofinishhim。
Inordertoputhimatonceoutofpain,Iwenttowithintwentyyards,therebeingabankbetweenuswhichhecouldnotreadilyclimb。
Irestedthegunuponanant-hillsoastotakeasteadyaim;
but,thoughIfiredtwelvetwo-ouncebullets,allIhad,intodifferentparts,IcouldnotkillhimAsitwasbecomingdark,Iadvisedmymentolethimstand,beingsureoffindinghimdeadinthemorning;
but,thoughwesearchedallthenextday,andwentmorethantenmiles,weneversawhimagainImentionthistoyoungmenwhomaythinkthattheywillbeabletohuntelephantsonfootbyadoptingtheCeylonpracticeofkillingthembyoneballinthebrain。
IbelievethatinAfricathepracticeofstandingbeforeanelephant,expectingtokillhimwithoneshot,wouldbecertaindeathtothehunter;
andIwouldadd,fortheinformationofthosewhomaythinkthat,becauseImetwithagreatabundanceofgamehere,theyalsomightfindraresport,thatthetsetseexistsallalongbothbanksoftheZambesi,andtherecanbenohuntingbymeansofhorsesHuntingonfootinthisclimateissuchexcessivelyhardwork,thatIfeelcertainthekeenestsportsmanwouldverysoonturnawayfromitindisgust。
Imyselfwasratherglad,whenfurnishedwiththeexcusethatIhadnolongeranyballs,tohandoverallthehuntingtomymen,whohadnomoreloveforthesportthanmyself,astheyneverengagedinitexceptwhenforcedbyhunger。
SomeofthemgavemeahinttomeltdownmyplatebyaskingifitwerenotleadIhadtwopewterplatesandapieceofzincwhichInowmeltedintobulletsIalsospenttheremainderofmyhandkerchiefsinbuyingspearsforthemMymenfrequentlysurroundedherdsofbuffaloesandkillednumbersofthecalvesI,too,exertedmyselfgreatly;
but,asIamnowobligedtoshootwiththeleftarm,Iamabadshot,andthis,withthelightnessofthebullets,mademeveryunsuccessful。
Themorethehunger,thelessmysuccess,invariably。
Imayhereaddanadventurewithanelephantofonewhohashadmorenarrowescapesthananymanliving,butwhosemodestyhasalwayspreventedhimfrompublishinganythingabouthimself。
WhenwewereonthebanksoftheZougain1850,MrOswellpursuedoneoftheseanimalsintothedense,thick,thornybushesmetwithonthemarginofthatriver,andtowhichtheelephantusuallyfleesforsafetyHefollowedthroughanarrowpathwaybyliftingupsomeofthebranchesandforcinghiswaythroughtherest;
but,whenhehadjustgotoverthisdifficulty,hesawtheelephant,whosetailhehadbutgotglimpsesofbefore,nowrushingtowardhim。
Therewasthennotimetoliftupbranches,sohetriedtoforcethehorsethroughthemHecouldnoteffectapassage;and,astherewasbutaninstantbetweentheattemptandfailure,thehuntertriedtodismount,butindoingthisonefootwascaughtbyabranch,andthespurdrawnalongtheanimal’sflank;thismadehimspringawayandthrowtherideronthegroundwithhisfacetotheelephant,which,beinginfullchase,stillwentonMrOswellsawthehugeforefootabouttodescendonhislegs,partedthem,anddrewinhisbreathasiftoresistthepressureoftheotherfoot,whichheexpectedwouldnextdescendonhisbodyHesawthewholelengthoftheunderpartoftheenormousbrutepassoverhim;thehorsegotawaysafelyIhaveheardofbutoneotherauthenticinstanceinwhichanelephantwentoveramanwithoutinjury,and,foranyonewhoknowsthenatureofthebushinwhichthisoccurred,theverythoughtofanencounterinitwithsuchafoeisappalling。
Asthethornsareplacedinpairsonoppositesidesofthebranches,andtheseturnroundonbeingpressedagainst,onepairbringstheotherexactlyintothepositioninwhichitmustpiercetheintruder。
TheycutlikeknivesHorsesdreadthisbushextremely;
indeed,mostofthemrefusetofaceitsthorns。
OnreachingMburuma’svillage,hisbrothercametomeetusWeexplainedthereasonofourdelay,andhetoldusthatwewerelookeduponwithalarm。
HesaidthatSiriatombahadbeenkillednearthevillageofSelole,andhencethatman’sfearsHeaddedthattheItalianhadcometalkingofpeace,aswedid,buthadkidnappedchildrenandboughtivorywiththem,andthatweweresupposedtobefollowingthesamecalling。
Ipointedtomymen,andaskedifanyofthesewereslaves,andifwehadanychildrenamongthem,andIthinkwesatisfiedhimthatweweretruemenReferringtoourillsuccessinhuntingthedaybefore,hesaid,“Themanatwhosevillageyouremainedwasinfaultinallowingyoutowantmeat,forhehadonlytorunacrosstoMburuma;
hewouldhavegivenhimalittlemeal,and,havingsprinkledthatonthegroundasanofferingtothegods,youwouldhavefoundyourelephant。”
Thechiefsinthesepartstakeuponthemselvesanofficesomewhatlikethepriesthood,andthepeopleimaginethattheycanpropitiatetheDeitythroughthemInillustrationoftheirideas,itmaybementionedthat,whenwewereamongthetribeswestofSemalembue,severalofthepeoplecameforwardandintroducedthemselvesoneasahunterofelephants,anotherasahunterofhippopotami,athirdasadiggerofpitfalls
apparentlywishingmetogivethemmedicineforsuccessintheiravocations,aswellastocurethediseasesofthosetowhomIwasadministeringthedrugsIthoughttheyattributedsupernaturalpowertothem,for,likeallAfricans,theyhaveunboundedfaithintheefficacyofcharms;
butItookpainstoletthemknowthattheymustprayandtrusttoanotherpowerthanmineforaidWeneversawMburumahimself,andtheconductofhispeopleindicatedverystrongsuspicions,thoughhegaveuspresentsofmeal,maize,andnativecorn。
Hispeoplenevercamenearusexceptinlargebodiesandfullyarmed。
Wehadtoorderthemtoplacetheirbows,arrows,andspearsatadistancebeforeenteringourencampmentWedidnot,however,caremuchforalittletroublenow,aswehopedthat,ifwecouldpassthistimewithoutmuchmolestation,wemightyetbeabletoreturnwithease,andwithoutmeetingsour,suspiciouslooks。
Thesoil,glancingeverywherewithmica,isveryfertile,andallthevalleysarecultivated,themaizebeingnowinearandeatableRangesofhills,whichlinebothbanksoftheriverabovethis,nowcomecloseuptoeachbank,andformanarrowgorge,which,likeallothersofthesamenature,iscalledMpataThereisanarrowpathwaybythesideoftheriver,butwepreferredamoreopenoneinapassamongthehillstotheeast,whichiscalledMohangoThehillsrisetoaheightof800or1000feet,andareallcoveredwithtreesTherockswereofvariouscoloredmicaschist;andparallelwiththeZambesilayabroadbandofgneisswithgarnetsinitItstoodonedge,andseveraldikesofbasalt,withdolerite,hadcutthroughit。
MburumasenttwomenasguidestotheLoangwaThesementriedtobringustoastand,atadistanceofaboutsixmilesfromthevillage,bythenotice,“Mburumasaysyouaretosleepunderthattree。”
Ondecliningtodothis,weweretoldthatwemustwaitatacertainvillageforasupplyofcornAsnoneappearedinanhour,Iproceededonthemarch。
Itisnotquitecertainthattheirintentionswerehostile,butthisseemedtodisarrangetheirplans,andoneofthemwassoonobservedrunningbacktoMburumaTheyhadfirstofalltriedtoseparateourpartybyvolunteeringtheloanofacanoetoconveySekwebuandme,togetherwithourluggage,bywayoftheriver,and,asitwaspresseduponus,Ithoughtthatthiswastheirdesign。
Thenextattemptwastodetainusinthepass;but,betrayingnosuspicion,wecivillydeclinedtoplaceourselvesintheirpowerinanunfavorablepositionWeafterwardheardthatapartyofBabisatraders,whocamefromthenortheast,bringingEnglishgoodsfromMozambique,hadbeenplunderedbythissamepeople。
Elephantswerestillabundant,butmorewild,astheyfledwithgreatspeedassoonaswemadeourappearanceThecountrybetweenMburuma’sandhismother’svillagewasallhillyandverydifficult,andpreventedusfromtravelingmorethantenmilesaday。
AtthevillageofMaMburumamotherofMburuma,theguides,whohadagainjoinedus,gaveafavorablereport,andthewomenandchildrendidnotfleeHerewefoundthattraders,calledBazunga,havebeeninthehabitofcomingincanoes,andthatIwasnamedasoneofthem。
TheseIsupposedtobehalf-castePortuguese,fortheysaidthatthehairoftheirheadsandtheskinbeneaththeirclothingweredifferentfrommineMaMburumapromiseduscanoestocrosstheLoangwainourfrontItwaspleasanttoseegreatnumbersofmen,women,andboyscome,withoutsuspicion,tolookatthebooks,watch,looking-glass,revolver,etc。
Theyareastrong,muscularrace,andbothmenandwomenareseencultivatingthegroundThesoilcontainssomuchcomminutedtalcandmicafromtheadjacenthillsthatitseemsasifmixedwithspermaceti。
TheygenerallyeattheircornonlyafterithasbeguntosproutfromsteepingitinwaterThedeformedlipsofthewomenmakethemlookveryugly;IneversawonesmileThepeopleinthispartseemtounderstandreadilywhatisspokenaboutGod,fortheylistenwithgreatattention,andtellinreturntheirownideasofdepartedspirits。
ThepositionofthevillageofMburuma’smotherwasoneofgreatbeauty,quiteinclosedbyhigh,steephills;andthevalleysarealloccupiedbygardensofnativecornandmaize,whichgrowluxuriantly。
Wewereobligedtohurryalong,fortheoxenwerebittendailybythetsetse,which,asIhavebeforeremarked,nowinhabitsextensivetractswhichoncesupportedherdsofcattlethatweresweptoffbyMpakaneandothermarauders,whosedevastationswerewellknowntoSekwebu,forhehimselfhadbeenanactorinthescenesWhenhetoldmeofthemhealwaysloweredhisvoice,inorderthattheguidesmightnothearthathehadbeenoneoftheirenemiesButthatwewerelookeduponwithsuspicion,onaccountofhavingcomeinthefootstepsofinvaders,wasevidentfromourguidesremarkingtomeninthegardensthroughwhichwepassed,“Theyhavewordsofpeaceallveryfine;
butliesonly,astheBazungaaregreatliars。”Theythoughtwedidnotunderstandthem;butSekwebukneweverywordperfectly;
and,withoutpayinganyostensibleattentiontothesecomplimentaryremarks,wealwaystookcaretoexplaineverafterwardthatwewerenotBazunga,butMakoa###第103章
ConfluenceofLoangwaandZambesiHostileAppearances
RuinsofaChurchTurmoilofSpiritCrosstheRiver
FriendlyPartingRuinsofstoneHousesTheSituationofZumboforCommercePleasantGardensDrLacerda’sVisittoCazembe
Pereira’sStatementUnsuccessfulAttempttoestablishTradewiththePeopleofCazembeOneofmyMentossedbyaBuffalo
MeetaManwithJacketandHatonHearofthePortugueseandnativeWarHolmsandTerracesontheBanksofaRiverDancingforCorn
BeautifulCountryMpende’sHostilityIncantations
AFightanticipatedCourageandRemarksofmyMen
VisitfromtwooldCouncilorsofMpendeTheirOpinionoftheEnglish
MpendeconcludesnottofightusHissubsequentFriendship
AidsustocrosstheRiverTheCountrySweetPotatoes
BakwainTheoryofRainconfirmedThunderwithoutClouds
DesertionofoneofmyMenOtherNatives’IdeasoftheEnglish
DalamagoldInhabitantsdislikeSlave-buyers
MeetnativeTraderswithAmericanCalicoGame-laws
ElephantMedicineSaltfromtheSandFertilityofSoil
SpottedHyaenaLiberalityandPolitenessofthePeople
PresentsAstingywhiteTraderNatives’Remarksabouthim
EffectontheirMindsRainandWindnowfromanoppositeDirection
ScarcityofFuelTreesforBoat-buildingBoroma
FreshetsLeavetheRiverChicova,itsGeologicalFeatures
SmallRapidnearTeteLoquaciousGuideNyampungo,theRain-charmer
AnoldManNoSilverGold-washingNoCattle。
14THWereachedtheconfluenceoftheLoangwaandtheZambesi,mostthankfultoGodforhisgreatmerciesinhelpingusthusfar。
Mburuma’speoplehadbehavedsosuspiciously,that,thoughwehadguidesfromhim,wewerebynomeanssurethatweshouldnotbeattackedincrossingtheLoangwaWesawthemherecollectinginlargenumbers,and,thoughprofessingfriendship,theykeptatadistancefromourcamp。
Theyrefusedtolendusmorecanoesthantwo,thoughtheyhavemany。
TheyhavenointercoursewithEuropeansexceptthroughtheBabisa。
TheytellusthatthiswasformerlytheresidenceoftheBazunga,andmaintainsilenceastothecauseoftheirleavingitIwalkedaboutsomeruinsIdiscovered,builtofstone,andfoundtheremainsofachurch,andononesidelayabrokenbell,withthelettersIHSandacross,butnodateTherewerenoinscriptionsonstone,andthepeoplecouldnottellwhattheBazungacalledtheirplaceWefoundafterwarditwasZumbo。
Ifeltsometurmoilofspiritintheeveningattheprospectofhavingallmyeffortsforthewelfareofthisgreatregionanditsteemingpopulationknockedontheheadbysavagesto-morrow,whomightbesaidto“knownotwhattheydo。”ItseemedsuchapitythattheimportantfactoftheexistenceofthetwohealthyridgeswhichIhaddiscoveredshouldnotbecomeknowninChristendom,foraconfirmationwouldtherebyhavebeengiventotheideathatAfricaisnotopentotheGospelButIreadthatJesussaid,“Allpowerisgivenuntomeinheavenandonearth;goye,therefore,andteachallnationsandlo,IAMWITHYOUALWAY,EVENUNTO
THEENDOFTHEWORLD。”ItookthisasHiswordofhonor,andthenwentouttotakeobservationsforlatitudeandlongitude,which,Ithink,wereverysuccessfulThechurch:lat15d37’22“S。,long30d32’E。
15THThenativesofthesurroundingcountrycollectedaroundusthismorning,allarmedThewomenandchildrenweresentaway,andoneofMburuma’swives,wholivesinthevicinity,wasnotallowedtoapproach,thoughshehadcomefromhervillagetopaymeavisit。
Onlyonecanoewaslenttous,thoughwesawtwootherstiedtothebank。
Thepartwecrossedwasaboutamilefromtheconfluence,and,asitwasnowflooded,itseemedupwardofhalfamileinbreadth。
Wepassedallourgoodsfirstontoanislandinthemiddle,thentheremainingcattleandmen;occupyingthepostofhonor,I,asusual,wasthelasttoenterthecanoeAnumberoftheinhabitantsstoodarmedallthetimewewereembarkingIshowedthemmywatch,lens,andotherthingstokeepthemamused,untilthereonlyremainedthosewhoweretoenterthecanoewithmeIthankedthemfortheirkindness,andwishedthempeaceAfterall,theymayhavebeeninfluencedonlybytheintentiontobereadyincaseIshouldplaythemsomefalsetrick,fortheyhavereasontobedistrustfulofthewhitesTheguidescameovertobidusadieu,andwesatunderamango-treefifteenfeetincircumference。
WefoundthemmorecommunicativenowTheysaidthatthelandonbothsidesbelongedtotheBazunga,andthattheyhadleftofold,ontheapproachofChangamera,Ngaba,andMpakaneSekwebuwaswiththelastnamed,buthemaintainedthattheynevercametotheconfluence,thoughtheycarriedoffallthecattleofMburumaTheguidesconfirmedthisbysayingthattheBazungawerenotattacked,butfledinalarmontheapproachoftheenemyThismango-treeheknewbyitspropername,andwefoundsevenothersandseveraltamarinds,andwereinformedthatthechiefMburumasendsmenannuallytogatherthefruit,but,likemanyAfricanswhomIhaveknown,hasnothadpatiencetopropagatemoretreesIgavethemsomelittlepresentsforthemselves,ahandkerchiefandafewbeads,andtheywerehighlypleasedwithaclothofredbaizeforMburuma,whichSekeletuhadgivenmetopurchaseacanoeWewerethankfultopartgoodfriends。
Nextmorningwepassedalongthebottomoftherange,calledMazanzwe,andfoundtheruinsofeightortenstonehousesTheyallfacedtheriver,andwerehighenoughuptheflanksofthehillMazanzwetocommandapleasantviewofthebroadZambesiTheseestablishmentshadallbeenbuiltononeplanahouseononesideofalargecourt,surroundedbyawall;
bothhousesandwallshadbeenbuiltofsoftgraysandstonecementedtogetherwithmudTheworkhadbeenperformedbyslavesignorantofbuilding,forthestoneswerenotoftenplacedsoastocovertheseamsbelow。
HenceyoufrequentlyfindthejoiningsformingoneseamfromthetoptothebottomMuchmortarorclayhadbeenusedtocoverdefects,andnowtreesofthefigfamilygrowuponthewalls,andclaspthemwiththeirrootsWhentheclayismoistened,massesofthewallscomedownbywholesaleSomeoftheraftersandbeamshadfallenin,butwereentire,andthereweresometreesinthemiddleofthehousesaslargeasaman’sbodyOntheoppositeorsouthbankoftheZambesiwesawtheremainsofawallonaheightwhichwasprobablyafort,andthechurchstoodatacentralpoint,formedbytherightbankoftheLoangwaandtheleftoftheZambesi。
ThesituationofZumbowasadmirablywellchosenasasiteforcommerce。
Lookingbackwardweseeamassofhigh,darkmountains,coveredwithtrees;
behindusrisesthefinehighhillMazanzwe,whichstretchesawaynorthwardalongtheleftbankoftheLoangwa;totheS。Eliesanopencountry,withasmallroundhillinthedistancecalledTofuloThemerchants,astheysatbeneaththeverandahsinfrontoftheirhouses,hadamagnificentviewofthetworiversattheirconfluence;
oftheirchurchattheangle;andofallthegardenswhichtheyhadonbothsidesoftheriversInthesetheycultivatedwheatwithoutirrigation,and,asthePortugueseassert,ofagraintwicethesizeofthatatTeteFromtheguideswelearnedthattheinhabitantshadnotimbibedmuchideaofChristianity,fortheyusedthesametermforthechurchbellwhichtheydidforadiviner’sdrumFromthispointthemerchantshadwatercommunicationinthreedirectionsbeyond,namely,fromtheLoangwatotheN。N。W。,bytheKafuetotheW。,andbytheZambesitotheS。W。
Theirattention,however,waschieflyattractedtotheNorLonda;
andtheprincipalarticlesoftradewereivoryandslaves。
Privateenterprisewasalwaysrestrained,forthecoloniesofthePortuguesebeingstrictlymilitary,andthepayofthecommandantsbeingverysmall,theofficershavealwaysbeenobligedtoengageintrade;
andhadtheynotemployedtheirpowertodrawthetradetothemselvesbypreventingprivatetradersfrommakingbargainsbeyondthevillages,andonlyatregulatedprices,theywouldhavehadnotrade,astheythemselveswereobligedtoremainalwaysattheirposts。
SeveralexpeditionswenttothenorthasfarastoCazembe,andDrLacerda,himselfcommandantofTete,wenttothatchief’sresidence。
Unfortunately,hewascutoffwhilethere,andhispapers,takenpossessionofbyaJesuitwhoaccompaniedhim,werelosttotheworld。
ThisJesuitprobablyintendedtoactfairlyandhavethempublished;
butsoonafterhisreturnhewascalledawaybydeathhimself,andthepaperswerelostsightofDrLacerdahadastrongdesiretoopenupcommunicationwithAngola,whichwouldhavebeenofimportancethen,asaffordingaspeediermodeofcommunicationwithPortugalthanbythewayoftheCape;butsincetheopeningoftheoverlandpassagetoIndia,aquickertransitiseffectedfromEasternAfricatoLisbonbywayoftheRedSeaBesidesLacerda,CazembewasvisitedbyPereira,whogaveaglowingaccountofthatchief’spower,whichnoneofmyinquirieshaveconfirmedThepeopleofMatiamvostatedtomethatCazembewasavassaloftheirchief:and,fromallthenativevisitorswhomIhaveseen,heappearstobeexactlylikeShinteandKatema,onlyalittlemorepowerfulTheterm“Emperor“,whichhasbeenappliedtohim,seemstotallyinappropriateThestatementofPereirathattwentynegroeswereslaughteredinaday,wasnotconfirmedbyanyoneelse,thoughnumbersmayhavebeenkilledonsomeparticularoccasionduringthetimeofhisvisit,forwefindthroughoutallthecountrynorthof20Deg。,whichIconsidertoberealnegro,thecustomofslaughteringvictimstoaccompanythedepartedsoulofachief,andhumansacrificesareoccasionallyoffered,andcertainpartsofthebodiesareusedascharmsItisonaccountoftheexistenceofsuchrites,withthesimilarityofthelanguage,andthefactthatthenamesofriversarerepeatedagainandagainfromnorthtosouththroughallthatregion,thatIconsiderthemtohavebeenoriginallyonefamily。
ThelastexpeditiontoCazembewassomewhatofthesamenatureastheothers,andfailedinestablishingacommerce,becausethepeopleofCazembe,whohadcometoTetetoinvitethePortuguesetovisitthem,hadnotbeenallowedtotradewithwhomtheymightAsithadnotbeenfree-tradethere,Cazembedidnotseewhyitshouldbefree-tradeathistown;
heaccordinglywouldnotallowhispeopletofurnishthepartywithfoodexceptathisprice;andtheexpedition,beinghalfstarvedinconsequence,cameawayvotingunanimouslythatCazembewasagreatbore。
WhenwelefttheLoangwawethoughtwehadgotridofthehills;
buttherearesomebehindMazanzwe,thoughfiveorsixmilesofffromtheriverTsetseandthehillshaddestroyedtworidingoxen,andwhenthelittleonethatInowrodeknockedup,IwasforcedtomarchonfootThebushbeingverydenseandhigh,weweregoingalongamongthetrees,whenthreebuffaloes,whichwehadunconsciouslypassedabovethewind,thoughtthattheyweresurroundedbymen,anddashedthroughourlineMyoxsetoffatagallop,andwhenIcouldmanagetoglanceback,Isawoneofthemenupintheairaboutfivefeetaboveabuffalo,whichwastearingalongwithastreamofbloodrunningdownhisflankWhenIgotbacktothepoorfellow,Ifoundthathehadlightedonhisface,and,thoughhehadbeencarriedonthehornsofthebuffaloabouttwentyyardsbeforegettingthefinaltoss,theskinwasnotpiercednorwasabonebrokenWhenthebeastsappeared,hehadthrowndownhisloadandstabbedoneintheside。
Itturnedsuddenlyuponhim,and,beforehecoulduseatreefordefense,carriedhimoffWeshampooedhimwell,andthenwenton,andinaboutaweekhewasabletoengageinthehuntagain。
AtZumbowehadentereduponoldgraysandstone,withshingleinit,dippinggenerallytowardthesouth,andformingthebedoftheriver。
TheZambesiisverybroadhere,butcontainsmanyinhabitedislands。
Wesleptoppositeoneonthe16thcalledShibangaThenightsarewarm,thetemperatureneverfallingbelow80Deg。;itwas91Degevenatsunset。
Onecannotcoolthewaterbyawettowelroundthevessel,andwefeelnopleasureindrinkingwarmwater,thoughtheheatmakesusimbibelargequantitiesWeoftennoticedlumpsofafroth-likesubstanceonthebushesaslargeascricket-balls,whichwecouldnotexplain。
Onthemorningofthe17thwewerepleasedtoseeapersoncomingfromtheislandofShibangawithjacketandhatonHewasquiteblack,buthadcomefromthePortuguesesettlementatTeteorNyungwe;
andnow,forthefirsttime,weunderstoodthatthePortuguesesettlementwasontheotherbankoftheriver,andthattheyhadbeenfightingwiththenativesforthelasttwoyearsWehadthusgotintothemidstofaCaffrewar,withoutanyparticularwishtobeoneitherside。
Headvisedustocrosstheriveratonce,asMpendelivedonthisside。
WehadbeenwarnedbytheguidesofMburumaagainsthim,fortheysaidthatifwecouldgetpastMpendewemightreachthewhitemen,butthathewasdeterminedthatnowhitemanshouldpasshim。
Wishingtofollowthisman’sadvice,weproposedtoborrowhiscanoes;
but,beingafraidtooffendthelordsoftheriver,hedeclined。
Theconsequencewas,wewereobligedtoremainontheenemy’sside。
ThenextislandbelongedtoamannamedZungo,afine,frankfellow,whobroughtusatonceapresentofcorn,boundinapeculiarwayingrass。
Hefreelyacceptedourapologyforhavingnopresenttogiveinreturn,asheknewthattherewerenogoodsintheinterior,and,besides,sentforwardarecommendationtohisbrother-in-lawPangolaThecountryadjacenttotheriveriscoveredwithdensebush,thornyandtangled,makingonestooporwaittillthemenbrokeorheldthebranchesononeside。
Thereismuchrankgrass,butitisnotsohighorrankasthatofAngola。
Themaize,however,whichisgrownhereisequalinsizetothatwhichtheAmericanssellforseedattheCapeThereisusuallyaholmadjacenttotheriver,studdedwithvillagesandgardensTheholmsarebutpartiallycultivated,andontheotherpartsgrowsrankandweedygrass。
Thereisthenasecondterrace,onwhichtreesandbushesabound;
andIthoughtIcoulddetectathirdandhighersteppe。
ButInevercoulddiscoverterracesontheadjacentcountry,suchasinothercountriesshowancientsea-beachesThepathrunssometimesontheoneandsometimesontheotheroftheseriverterraces。
Canoesareessentiallynecessary;butIfindthattheyherecosttoomuchformymeans,andhigherup,wheremyhoesmighthavesecuredone,Iwasunwillingtoenterintoacanoeandpartwithmymenwhiletherewasdangeroftheirbeingattacked。